System and method for vertical path navigation

ABSTRACT

Methods, devices and systems are provided that display images in a manner that provides for effective space management. At least one item is horizontally displayed in a first display area. Upon selection by a user of at least one item from the first display area, an indication of the at least one item is vertically displayed in a second display area.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application that claims priorityfrom provisional application Attorney Docket No. 12210/20, entitled“VERTICAL PATH NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND METHOD”, filed on Jul. 17, 2003,which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to display of images. More specifically,the present invention relates to vertical display of one or moreselected items within an image.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Electronic devices used today often have displays that present userswith images which may include menus or lists of items. A user may needto make selections from the presented items. Accordingly, graphical userinterfaces have been developed to allow a user to make such selections.

However, some electronic devices may present a user with a whole seriesof such menus or lists of items, such that the use of such devices maybe complicated and difficult for a user, resulting in frustration oreven rejection of the device. Many devices use such menus or lists, suchas personal data assistants, cameras, VCRs, computers, cable televisioninterfaces, home security systems, etc. Users often become frustratedwith such devices because of the complicated menus that lead to moremenus, and the difficulty navigating among the different levels that maybe presented.

Further, many of these devices have screens or monitors that havelimited space. Manufacturers of such devices have found it difficult topresent a user with an interface that allows a user to easily navigateamong complex levels of menus or lists due to the limited screen sizeand complicated menus.

Accordingly, what is needed is an interface that enables a user toeasily make selections, to easily navigate through different levels, andto provide effective space management of the limited amount of screenspace.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide for methods, devices andsystems that display images in a manner that provides for effectivespace management. At least one item is horizontally displayed in a firstdisplay area. Upon selection by a user of at least one item from thefirst display area, an indication of the at least one item is verticallydisplayed in a second display area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating images in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating images accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating images in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating images in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating images in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating images in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide for methods, devices andsystems that display images in a manner that provides for effectivespace management. The present invention is particularly useful as a userinterface in electronic devices and systems that utilize menus or listshaving at least one item for selection, particularly where the selectiongenerates at least one additional menu or list, as further explainedbelow.

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of the presentinvention. Device 100 is an electronic device suitable for use with thepresent invention. The device 100 includes a processor 110, a memory120, a user input 130 and a display 140. The memory 120 may containsoftware to be run in conjunction with processor 110, and may causeimages to be displayed on display 140. In conjunction with embodimentsof the invention, a user may view images on display 140, and may provideinput to device 100 via user input 130.

The processor 110 may be a general-purpose microprocessor, such aPentium series microprocessor manufactured by the Intel Corporation ofSanta Clara, Calif. In another embodiment, the processor 110 can be anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), which has been designedto implement in its hardware and/or firmware at least a part of a methodin accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

Memory 120 can be any device capable of storing analog or digitalinformation, such as a hard disk, Random Access Memory (RAM), Read OnlyMemory (ROM), flash memory, a compact disk, a magnetic tape, a floppydisk, and any combination thereof, for example.

User input 130 can be any type of input device, such as a keyboard,keypad, pointing device, microphone, mouse, wired or wireless remotecontrol, touch pad, touch screen, a port(s) to attach other inputdevices, voice recognition software, etc. Any type of input device willfunction in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

The display 140 can be any type of display or screen that is capable ofdisplaying images. For example, the display may be a CRT or LCD monitor,a heads-up display, a television, etc. The display 140 may bestructurally included as part of the electronic device, or may bephysically separated from but connected with the other components ofdevice 100, such as a monitor in a desktop computer.

The electronic device 100 may be any device capable of displayingimages. For example, electronic device 100 may be a computer such as adesktop, handheld or laptop computer, a camera, a watch, a personal dataassistant, a security system, a television, a radio, a cable televisionsystem, a personal video recorder, a direct broadcast television system,etc.

Embodiments of the present invention will display images on display 150to allow a user to easily navigate through displayed items. For example,embodiments of the present invention allow a user to easily navigatethrough lists or menus of displayed items. Where the displayed itemshave many levels, embodiments of the present invention allow easynavigation to different levels, as further explained below.

FIG. 2 illustrates image 200 produced in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention. The images shown in FIG. 2 and subsequentfigures are particularly useful in a cable television system, but thevertical display of selected items as discussed herein may be used withany display and still be within the scope of the present invention.Image 200 may include a video image 204, which may be a programcurrently being viewed by a user, or a preview of an available program,for example.

Image 200 also includes at least one horizontally displayed item 202.The at least one horizontally displayed item 202 may be displayed in theform of a list or menu if more that one item is present. The term “list”as used herein is defined to include one item or a plurality of items.The term “horizontally” as used herein is intended to include display ofitems from right to left, or from left to right on the display. Forexample, if words are the displayed items, the letters in the words willgenerally traverse from left to right across the display.

A user may be able to place a screen indicator 206 on an item from oneof the horizontally displayed items. For example, the screen indicatorcould be a highlighted portion that is controlled by the user with userinput 130. For example, the user may be able to control the screenindicator 206 with a remote control or a mouse. The user may also beable to select the indicated item with the user input 130. For example,a user may be able to select an indicated item by clicking on a mouse orpressing an appropriate key on a remote control.

FIG. 3 illustrates a further image that is generated in accordance withthe present invention when the user selects an item from thehorizontally displayed at least one item or list of items 202. In thecase of the images displayed in FIGS. 2 and 3, the image 300 displayedin FIG. 3 is generated in response to the user selecting the “ON DEMAND”item from the list of items 202. In response to the selection of thehorizontally displayed “ON DEMAND” item, a second horizontally displayeditem or list of items 302 is generated and displayed in a first displayarea 301. The second horizontally displayed item or list of items 302corresponds to the selected item from the horizontally displayed atleast one item or list of items 202. For example, as shown in FIG. 3,the items displayed in the second horizontally displayed item or list ofitems 302 are items that are available “ON DEMAND” to a user.

Further, an indication 303 of the selected item from the firsthorizontally displayed at least one item or list of items 202 isvertically displayed in a first vertical display area 304. Theindication 303 may use the same wording as used in the selected item ormay use different wording or some other indication. The verticallydisplayed indication 303 is shown as “ON DEMAND MENU”, while theselected item was “ON DEMAND”, and thus the term “MENU” was added to theindication, although “ON DEMAND” would work equally as well as theindication.

The first vertical display area 304 may be adjacent the horizontaldisplay area 301 as shown in FIG. 3, or may be separated there from.Second and third vertical display areas 306 and 308 are also present,and will be further explained below. The vertical display areas displayitems in a vertical fashion, which may be substantially perpendicular tothe items displayed horizontally in horizontal display area 301. Theterm “vertically displayed” as used herein is intended to include itemsdisplayed from top to bottom or from bottom to top, on the display. Forexample, if the displayed items are words, the letters in the words willtraverse from top to bottom or from bottom to top, on the screen. Theletters may be turned sidewise at a substantially 90 degree angle asshown in the figures, or the letters may be displayed upright, as longas the letters traverse from top to bottom, or bottom to top on thescreen.

The image 300 may also include a static primary screen name 310 that isestablished once a user makes a first selection from the horizontallydisplayed item or list of items 302. The primary screen name 310 is usedto visually indicate a content area.

A user can again place a screen indicator on any item from thehorizontally displayed item or list of items 302. For example, “HBO onDemand” is shown highlighted in FIG. 3. The user may also select one ofthe horizontally displayed item or list of items 302, which will resultin a further image being generated, as explained below.

FIG. 4 illustrates the image 400 that is generated when a user selectsthe “HBO on Demand” item from image 300. The “ON DEMAND MENU” verticallydisplayed item is moved to the second vertical display area 406, and theitem “HBO ON DEMAND” selected from the horizontally displayed item orlist of items 302 is now vertically displayed in first vertical displayarea 404. The exact wording that in the horizontally displayed item doesnot have to be displayed vertically, but the vertically displayed itemmay be a item corresponding to or associated with the horizontallydisplayed item or and indication as displayed above. In this image 400,vertical display area 408 is empty and the primary screen name 310 “ONDEMAND” is still displayed. Additionally, a third horizontally displayeditem or list of items 402 is displayed in horizontal display area. Thethird horizontally displayed item or list of items 402 corresponds tothe selected item, “HBO on Demand”, from the horizontally displayed itemor list of items 302. In the example illustrated the selected item, “HBOon Demand”, results in the subsequent display of HBO items that areavailable on demand. As shown in FIG. 4, any of the items may have ascreen indicator placed on them by user input. FIG. 4 illustrates theexample where the screen indicator in placed on the horizontallydisplayed item “HBO Series”, although it can be placed on any of theitems. Additionally, the screen indicator may be placed on thevertically displayed items in vertical display areas 404 or 406, and thevertically displayed items may be selected by the user. For example, ifthe user selects the “ON DEMAND MENU” from FIG. 4, the system will causethe image of FIG. 3 to be generated and displayed. The verticallydisplayed, static primary screen name 410 continues to be displayed.

When the user is viewing the image 400 and selects one of thehorizontally displayed item or list of items 402, a new image isgenerated and displayed. For example, if the user selects “HBO Series”from the image 400, a new image 500 is generated and displayed, as shownin FIG. 5. The new image 500 includes horizontally displayed item orlist of items 502 in horizontal display area 501. The verticallydisplayed item “HBO ON DEMAND” that had been displayed in the firstvertical display area 404, is now displayed in the second verticaldisplay area 506, and the vertically displayed item “ON DEMAND MENU”that had been displayed in the second vertical display area, is nowdisplayed in the third vertical display area 508. The user may place thescreen indicator on any of the horizontally displayed item or list ofitems, or on any of the vertically displayed items. Any of these itemsmay be selected. Thus, the present invention provides vertical pathnavigation to previously displayed items or lists of items, in this caseby user selection of either of the vertically displayed items invertical display areas 506 or 508. The vertically displayed, staticprimary screen name 510 continues to be displayed.

FIG. 6 illustrates an image 600 that is generated when the user selectsthe horizontally displayed item “Sex and the City” from the horizontaldisplay area 501. A new item or list of items corresponding to theselected item “Sex and the City” is displayed in horizontal display area601. The selected item “Sex and the City” that had been horizontallydisplayed in horizontal display area 501, is now vertically displayed infirst vertical display area 604. The “HBO SERIES” item that had beenvertically displayed in the first vertical display area 504 is nowvertically displayed in the second vertical display area 606. The “HBOON DEMAND” item that had been vertically displayed in the secondvertical display area 506, is now vertically displayed in the thirdvertical display area 608. The vertically displayed item “ON DEMANDMENU” that had been vertically displayed in the third vertical displayarea 508, is now moved to a non-visible portion, which will be furtherexplained below in conjunction with FIG. 10. The vertically displayed,static primary screen name 610 continues to be displayed.

The user can again move a screen indicator to any of the horizontallydisplayed item or list of items 602, or to any of the verticallydisplayed items in vertical display areas 604, 606 or 608, by using theuser input 130. Further, the user may cause the “ON DEMAND MENU” itemthat had been moved to the non-visible portion to be again displayed inthe third vertical display area 608. For example, if user input is aremote control, it may include appropriate buttons for such actions,such as right and left arrow buttons. Also, the “SEX AND THE CITY” itemthat had been displayed in vertical display area 604 is now moved toanother non-visible portion, which may itself be accessed, for example,by use of a right arrow on a remote control.

FIG. 7 illustrates image 700 that is generated when the user selectshorizontally displayed item “Sex and the City 02” from image 600. Inthis case, the horizontal display area 701 has non-selectable items,which may include information about the selected item “Sex and the City02” such as a price for purchase, a rating, a type of program, adescription, etc. In this case, the vertically displayed items invertical display areas 704, 706 and 708 may remain the same as thosedisplayed in image 600, in particular if the series of verticallydisplayed item or list of items has reached an end of path. Thevertically displayed, static primary screen name 710 continues to bedisplayed. A vertically displayed item or list of items 712 may bedisplayed in a second vertical display area 710.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a cable television system 800 that maygenerate images as described above for display on a customer'stelevision. The system 800 includes a head-end 802 from whichprogramming, images and a user interface with vertical navigationoriginates. Data is transmitted from the head-end 802 to subscriber settop boxes 810 in a subscriber's home 812 through a tree-likecommunication network. The data is transmitted from the head-end 802 toone or more nodes 804 via a fiber optic link. From the nodes 804, thedata propagates to customer set top boxes 810 via coaxial cable. Thecommunication link from the node to the set top boxes may traverse oneor more amplifiers 806 and taps 808. Lines from the taps 808 extend toindividual customer premises. The nodes 804, the amplifiers 806 and thetaps 808 are transparent to all but the lowest-level system operations.These elements merely relay and route data from the head-end unit 802 tothe customer set top boxes 810.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of one possible embodiment of set top box 900,which can be used as the set top box 810 in FIG. 8. For simplicity, onlycertain components of the set-top box are shown. Additionally, somefunctions of the various components described herein may actually beperformed by a single component or integrated chip.

A signal from the head end 802 is received at the splitter 910 locatedin the Front End Block 902. The signal may be received at the set topbox 900 via a coaxial cable. The signal is passed to the In Band tuner912 that tunes to a particular 6 MHz channel. The 6 MHz channel caneither be an analog signal or a QAM modulated digital signal. The analogsignal containing analog programming is sent directly to theMPEG-2/Graphics/Audio Block 904 via the Analog Demodulator (AnalogDemod) 914. The baseband video portion of the analog signal is outputvia Video Encoder/Decoder 922. The baseband audio portion of the analogsignal is output via the Audio CODEC/Mixer 924.

The QAM modulated digital portion of the signal containing digitalprogramming is sent to the MPEG-2/Graphics/Audio Block 904 via the QAMDemodulator (QAM Demod) 916. The QAM Demod 916 outputs a MPEG transportstream to the MPEG De-Multiplexer (MPEG De-MUX) 928. The incoming MPEGtransport stream is de-multiplexed into its component primary videostream, primary and secondary audio streams, and control signals by theMPEG De-MUX 928. The de-multiplexed digital data is passed onto theGraphics Interface 930. The baseband video portion of the digital signalis output via the Video Encoder/Decoder 922. The baseband audio portionof the digital signal is output via the Audio CODEC/Mixer 924.

The cable television service may provide a user interface (UI) withvertical navigation to customers. The UI is based on a client-servercommunication architecture that is established between the head end 802and the set top boxes 900 within digital channels. A user initiatedrequest for the UI from a remote control or front panel of the set topbox 810 causes the Main Processor Unit (MPU) 938 located in the SystemControl Block 908 to post a request for the UI. An HTTP request is sentfrom the Ethernet Interface 944 of the System Control Block 908 to theEthernet Interface 936 of the Cable Modem Block 906. The Multi-FunctionProcessor (MFP) 934 processes the request and passes the processedrequest to the Up-Stream Combiner 918 in the Front End Block 902. TheCable Modem Block 906 uses a DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service InterfaceSpecifications) standard to process the HTTP request. The Front EndBlock 902 sends the HTTP request for the UI to the Head-End 802 toprocess the request.

A server in the Head-End 802 generates dynamic web pages in response toHTTP request. The web pages in the form of IP data packets are sent backto the set top box 810 via the coax cable. The web pages are received atthe Tuner 932 in the Cable Modem Block 906 via the Splitter 910. TheTuner 932 is tuned to a specific downstream channel and receives the IPdata packets. The MFP 934 identifies and selects only the IP datapackets that are addressed to that particular cable modem. The selectedIP data packets are sent to the System Control Block 908 via theEthernet Interface 944. The MPU 938 stores the IP data packetsrepresenting the UI pages in the SDRAM 942.

The Flash Memory 946 in the System Control Block 908 stores operatingcode for the set top box 810 as well as a browser that is used toretrieve and display the UI. Upon boot-up of the set top box, relevantportions of the code are loaded in the SDRAM 942 to use as an operatingcopy. The browser processes the web pages and generates commands thatare sent to the Graphics Interface 930 to render the web-page on the TVscreen upon request from the user. The Graphics Interface 930 storesbitmapped representations of the requested pages in frame buffer memory,which are in a digital form. The Graphics Interface 930 and the VideoEncoder/Decoder 922 cause the UI image to be painted on the screen, asdescribed below.

Each request for the UI returns a new UI page with updated data. Eachnew request from the user causes the Head-End 802 to retrieve therequested web page data and forward the data to the set top box 810 thatrequests it. Depending on the request, web pages relevant to the user'srequest are sent to the set top box. For example, if a user requests anUI for “On Demand” then the data relating to the On Demand subcategories will be sent to the set top box 810.

The browser running on the set top box formats the web pages fordisplay. Javascript routines within the web pages permit users tonavigate through the UI. As the user navigates the UI, the MPU retrievesthe appropriate data stored in the SDRAM 942 and renders it into thedata to the MPEG-2/Graphics Block 904 for display.

FIG. 10 illustrates a screen layout 1000 that may be used in the imagesgenerated in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Thescreen layout 1000 includes horizontal display area 1001 where an itemor list of items may be horizontally displayed. Items may be verticallydisplayed in the first vertical display area 1002, the second verticaldisplay area 1004, and the third vertical display area 1006. Any numberof vertical display areas may be used in accordance with the presentinvention. A static primary screen name 1016 can be displayed.

FIG. 10 also illustrates non-visible portions 1008, 1010, 1012 and 1014.As described above, when an item is selected from the horizontallydisplayed items, the selected item or an indication of the selected itemis displayed vertically in the vertical display area. In an embodiment,the vertically displayed items move from right to left as further itemsare selected from the horizontally displayed items. The number ofvertical display areas may be limited to a specific number, such asthree as shown in FIG. 10, and this may depend on the available screenspace or other factors. Once all of the vertical display areas beingused in any particular implementation are filled, as additionalhorizontally displayed items are selected, for each additionalselection, one of the vertically displayed items will move to one of thenon-visible portions. Any number of non-visible portions may be used.The items in non-visible portions are not visible, but are buffered forrecall to a vertical display area as a user traverses the verticaldisplay portions with the screen indicator.

For example, in an embodiment that uses three vertical display areas,any number of selections over three from the horizontally displayeditems will result in one or more of the non-visible portions beingfilled. If a user had made seven selections, three items would bedisplayed in the vertical display positions, and four items would bebuffered in the non-visible portions. The user can vertically navigateto any of the selected items by causing the screen indicator to traverseacross the vertically displayed items. In an embodiment, if the screenindicator is on the third vertical display area and the user traversesto the left, for example by pressing a left arrow key, then a new imageis generated in which the item buffered in non-visible portion 1002 isnow moved to be vertically displayed in the third vertical display area1006, with each of the items previously displayed in the verticaldisplay area being re-displayed one position to the right. Thevertically displayed item that had been previously displayed in verticalposition 1002 is now moved into non-visible position 1010. In this way,a user can easily and quickly traverse to any of the previously selecteditems.

FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart showing steps that may be carried out inembodiments of the invention. In step S1100, a first at least one itemis horizontally displayed in a first display area. In S1102, it isdetermined whether an item from the at least one horizontally displayeditem has been selected. If such an item has been selected, than in S1104the selected item or an indication of the selected item is verticallydisplayed in a second image display area. If no selection has been madeat S1102, the continued horizontal display of the at least one itemoccurs.

FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart showing steps that may be carried out inembodiments of the invention. In step S1200, a first list of items ishorizontally displayed. In S1202, it is determined whether there hasbeen a selection from the first list of items. If there has not been aselection, display of the first list of items is continued. If there hasbeen a selection from the first list of items, in S1204 a second list ofitems corresponding to the selected item is horizontally displayed, andan indication of the selected item is vertically displayed in a separatearea from the second list of items.

FIG. 13 illustrates a flowchart showing steps that may be carried out inembodiments of the invention. In step S1300, one of a series of lists ishorizontally displayed in a first display area. In S1302, it isdetermined whether a selection of one of the items from the series oflists has been made. If a selection has not been made, horizontaldisplay of one of the series of lists in the first display areacontinues. In S1304, if a selection has been made, one or more itemsselected by a user from the series of lists is vertically displayed in asecond display area, and a subsequent one of the lists is horizontallydisplayed in the first display area.

Several embodiments of the invention are specifically illustrated and/ordescribed herein. However, it will be appreciated that modifications andvariations of the invention are covered by the above teachings andwithin the purview of the appended claims without departing from thespirit and intended scope of the invention.

1. A method for displaying images with a graphical user interface,comprising: displaying a first list of items horizontally on a display;upon selection by a user of one of the items in the first list,horizontally displaying a second list of items, the second list of itemsbeing associated with the selected item from the first list of items;and vertically displaying an indication of the selected item from thefirst list of items in a separate area from the second list of items. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the selected item fromthe first list of items is displayed substantially perpendicular toitems in the second list of items.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thesecond list of items is horizontally displayed in place of the firstlist of items.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, uponselection by the user of one of the items in the second list, displayinga third list of items in place of the second list of items, the thirdlist of items corresponding to the selected item from the second list ofitems.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising verticallydisplaying the selected item from the second list of items adjacent thethird list of items.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprisingvertically displaying the indication of the selected item from the firstlist of items adjacent the selected item from the second list of items.7. The method of claim 6, wherein the selected item from the second listof items is displayed between the third list of items and the itemselected from the second list of items.
 8. The method of claim 4,further comprising, upon selection of an item from the third list ofitems, displaying a fourth list of items in place of the third list ofitems, the fourth list of items corresponding to the item selected fromthird list of items.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprisingvertically displaying the selected item from the third list of itemsadjacent the fourth list of items.
 10. The method of claim 9, furthercomprising vertically displaying the selected item from the second listof items adjacent the selected item from the third list of items. 11.The method of claim 10, wherein the selected item from the third list ofitems is displayed between the fourth list of items and the selecteditem from the second list of items.
 12. The method of claim 10, furthercomprising vertically displaying the indication of the selected itemfrom the first list of items adjacent the selected item from the secondlist of items.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the indication of theselected item from the second list of items is displayed between theselected item from the third list of items and the selected item fromthe first list of items.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising,upon user selection of one of the vertically displayed, selected itemsfrom the first list or the second list, redisplaying a corresponding oneof the first list or the second list.
 15. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising, upon selection of an item from the fourth list of items,displaying a fifth list of items in place of the fourth list of items,the fifth list of items corresponding to the item selected from thefourth list of items.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprisingallowing the user to select any of the indication of selected items fromthe first list of items, the selected item from the second list ofitems, the selected item from the third list of items, or the selecteditem from the fourth list of items.
 17. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising: vertically displaying the selected item from the fourth listof items adjacent the fifth list of items and in place of the selecteditem from the third list of items; vertically displaying the selecteditem from the third list of items adjacent the selected item from thefourth list of items; vertically displaying the selected item from thesecond list of items adjacent the selected item from the third list ofitems; and placing the indication of the selected item from the firstlist of items in a non-visible portion adjacent the selected item fromthe second list of items.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the usercan traverse a screen indicator to any of the vertically displayedselected items from the second, third and fourth lists of items and theindication of the selected item from the first list of items.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, further comprising, upon user traversal of thescreen indicator to the selected item from the first list of items,moving the indication of the selected item from the first list of itemsfrom the non-visible portion to be in place of the selected item fromthe second list of items, moving the selected item from the second listof items to be in place of the selected item from the third list ofitems, moving the selected item from the third list of items to be inplace of the selected item from the fourth list of items, and moving theselected item from the fourth list of items to a further non-visibleportion.
 20. An electronic device having a graphical user interface,comprising: a screen for displaying the graphical user interface; meansfor allowing a user to make selections on the graphical user interface;image generation means for causing display of a first list of itemshorizontally on the screen, upon selection by the user of one of theitems in the first list, causing horizontal display of a second list ofitems, the second list of items being associated with the selected itemfrom the first list of items, and causing an indication of the selecteditem from the first list of items to be vertically displayed in aseparate area from the second list of items.
 21. The electronic deviceof claim 20, wherein the indication of the selected item from the firstlist of items is displayed substantially perpendicular to items in thesecond list of items.
 22. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein thesecond list of items is displayed in place of the first list of items.23. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein upon selection by theuser of one of the items in the second list, the image generation meanscauses display of a third list of items in place of the second list ofitems, the third list of items corresponding to the selected item fromthe second list of items.
 24. The electronic device of claim 23, whereinthe image generation means causes the selected item from the second listof items to be vertically displayed adjacent the third list of items.25. The electronic device of claim 24, wherein the image generationmeans causes the indication of the selected item from the first list ofitems to be vertically displayed adjacent the selected item from thesecond list of items.
 26. The electronic device of claim 25, wherein theselected item from the second list of items is displayed between thethird list of items and the item selected from the second list of items.27. The electronic device of claim 23, wherein upon selection by theuser of an item from the third list of items, the image generation meanscauses display of a fourth list of items in place of the third list ofitems, the fourth list of items corresponding to the item selected fromthird list of items.
 28. The electronic device of claim 27, wherein theimage generation means causes the selected item from the third list ofitems to be vertically displayed adjacent the fourth list of items. 29.The electronic device of claim 28, wherein the image generation meanscauses the selected item from the second list of items to be verticallydisplayed adjacent the selected item from the third list of items. 30.The electronic device of claim 29, wherein the selected item from thethird list of items is displayed between the fourth list of items andthe selected item from the second list of items.
 31. The electronicdevice of claim 29, wherein the image generation means causes theindication of the selected item from the first list of items to bevertically displayed adjacent the selected item from the second list ofitems.
 32. The electronic device of claim 31, wherein the imagegeneration means causes the selected item from the second list of itemsto be displayed between the selected item from the third list of itemsand the selected item from the first list of items.
 33. The electronicdevice of claim 32, wherein upon user selection of one of the verticallydisplayed, selected items from the first list or the second list, theimage generation means causes redisplay of a corresponding one of thefirst list or the second list.
 34. The electronic device of claim 27,wherein upon selection by the user of an item from the fourth list ofitems, the image generation means causes display of a fifth list ofitems in place of the fourth list of items, the fifth list of itemscorresponding to the item selected from the fourth list of items. 35.The electronic device of claim 34, wherein upon the user selecting anyof the indication of the selected item from the first list of items, theselected item from the second list of items, the selected item from thethird list of items, or the selected item from the fourth list of items,the image generation means causes a corresponding one of the first list,the second list, the third list and the fourth list to be redisplayed.36. The electronic device of claim 34, wherein the image generationmeans causes the selected item from the fourth list of items to bevertically displayed adjacent the fifth list of items and in place ofthe selected item from the third list of items, causes the selected itemfrom the third list of items to be vertically displayed adjacent theselected item from the fourth list of items, causes the selected itemfrom the second list of items to be vertically displayed adjacent theselected item from the third list of items, and causes placement of theindication of the selected item from the first list of items in anon-visible portion adjacent the selected item from the second list ofitems.
 37. The electronic device of claim 36, wherein the user cantraverse a screen indicator to any of the vertically displayed selecteditems from the second, third and fourth lists of items and theindication of the selected item from the first list of items.
 38. Theelectronic device of claim 37, wherein upon user traversal of the screenindicator to the indication of the selected item from the first list ofitems, the image generation means causes the indication of the selecteditem from the first list of items to be moved from the non-visibleportion to be in place of the selected item from the second list ofitems, causes the selected item from the second list of items to bemoved in place of the selected item from the third list of items, causesthe selected item from the third list of items to be moved in place ofthe selected item from the fourth list of items, and causes the selecteditem from the fourth list of items to be moved to a further non-visibleportion.
 39. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the electronicdevice is one of a personal data assistant, a watch, a computer, atelevision, a home security system, a direct broadcast televisionsystem, a personal video recorder, or a cable television system.
 40. Adisplay system, comprising: an image generation device that generatesimages on a display, the images on the display including a first imagedisplay area and a second image display area, the first image displayarea displaying a first at least one item horizontally on the display,and the second image display area vertically displaying an indication ofat least one item selected by a user from the first image display area.41. The display system of claim 40, wherein the first at least one itemcomprises a list of items.
 42. The display system of claim 40, whereinwhen the user selects an item from the first at least one item, theimage generation device causes horizontal display of a second at leastone item in the first image display area.
 43. A method of displayingimages, comprising: horizontally displaying a first at least one item ona display in a first display area; and vertically displaying, in asecond image display area, an indication of at least one item selectedby a user from the first image display area.
 44. The method of claim 43,wherein the first at least one item comprises a list of items.
 45. Themethod of claim 43, further comprising horizontally displaying a secondat least one item in the first display area.
 46. A display system,comprising: an image generation device that generates images on adisplay, the images including a first display area that horizontallydisplays one of a series of lists, and a second display area thatvertically displays one or more items selected from the lists, whereinselection of an item by a user from one of the lists results inhorizontal display of a subsequent one of the lists in the first displayarea, and results in vertical display of the selected item in the seconddisplay area.
 47. The display system of claim 46, wherein, in responseto selection by a user of an item from a plurality of the lists, theimage generation device causes vertical display of a correspondingplurality of the selected items.
 48. The display system of claim 47,wherein, in response to user selection of one of the verticallydisplayed selected items, the image generation device cause re-displayof the corresponding list in the first display area.
 49. A method ofdisplaying images, comprising: horizontally displaying one of a seriesof lists in a first display area; and vertically displaying one or moreitems selected by a user from the lists, wherein selection of an itemfrom one of the lists results in horizontal display of a subsequent oneof the lists in the first display area, and results in vertical displayof the selected item in the second display area.
 50. The method of claim49, further comprising, in response to selection of an item from aplurality of the lists, vertically displaying a corresponding pluralityof the selected items.
 51. The method of claim 50, further comprisingvertically navigating to any of previously displayed lists by selectinga corresponding one of the selected items.
 52. A machine-readable mediumhaving stored thereon a plurality of executable instructions, theplurality of instructions comprising instructions to: display a firstlist of items horizontally on a display; upon selection by a user of oneof the items in the first list, horizontally display a second list ofitems, the second list of items being associated with the selected itemfrom the first list of items; and vertically display an indication ofthe selected item from the first list of items in a separate area fromthe second list of items.
 53. A machine-readable medium having storedthereon a plurality of executable instructions, the plurality ofinstructions comprising instructions to: horizontally display a first atleast one item on a display in a first display area; and verticallydisplay, in a second image display area, an indication of at least oneitem selected by a user from the first image display area.
 54. Amachine-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of executableinstructions, the plurality of instructions comprising instructions to:horizontally display one of a series of lists in a first display area;and vertically display one or more items selected by a user from thelists, wherein selection of an item from one of the lists results inhorizontal display of a subsequent one of the lists in the first displayarea, and results in vertical display of the selected item in the seconddisplay area.
 55. A cable television system, comprising: an imagegeneration device that generates images on a display, the images on thedisplay including a first image display area and a second image displayarea, the first image display area displaying a first at least one itemhorizontally on the display, and the second image display areavertically displaying an indication of at least one item selected by auser from the first image display area.